Mid-Kent League Match - 46 Overs per side, Maximum 12 per bowler

New Ash Green (20 pts) 155 all out
Paddock Wood (11 pts) 125 all out
New Ash Green Won by 30 runs.

A solid start from Andy Cox (26) and a good innings from Matt Meehan, who fell one short of his fifty, formed the basis of a defendable total of 155 for New Ash Green, with contributions right down the order, with the exception of skipper Andy Stuart, who was out first ball. In reply Paddock Wood looked to be making light work of the total, but Vic Mayers, in his first game of the season, broke up the middle of their innings, taking 3-23 in 10 overs. He was aided by two excellent catches from Andy Cox, who also took 3-35, and the Paddock Wood innings fell away to a disappointing 125 all out, leaving New Ash Green with a comfortable looking 30 run win and maximum points.

New Ash Green II v Herne Bay II
Saturday 19th May 2001

Mid-Kent League Match - 46 Overs per side, Maximum 12 per bowler

Herne Bay (7 pts) 121-9
New Ash Green (19 pts) 123-5
New Ash Green Won by 5 wickets.

As with every other game this season rain during the week meant a low, slow pitch, but Herne Bay, having lost the toss and been asked to bat set off aggressively and looked early on as if they might post a large total. Once again 15 year old Richard Slatem bowled a superb opening spell, and he took the crucial first wicket with late movement off the pitch and a fine slip catch from Graham Hampsheir. With Micky Sumner improving throughout his spell to finish with 3-23 the brakes were put on, and after that Herne Bay could not break free of the shackles imposed by tight bowling from all the New Ash Green bowlers. Slatem returned to take three wickets at the end, taking his figures to 4-31, and it was only a late flurry from Paul Crow, top scorer with 20, that took Herne Bay past 100 to their final score of 121-9.

Chasing such a low total New Ash Green should have been cruising, but at 2-2 in the 5th over they were making things look difficult. However Dominic Adolphe steadied the ship, and with Matthew Quantrill put New Ash Green back on course. Although they had a little wobble in mid-innings when Adolphe was tied down and then removed for 19 by a very tight spell of bowling from Karl Hammond, who finished with the remarkable figures of 2-4 from 12 overs, 9 of them maidens, Quantrill was able to keep picking off the loose balls, finishing on 62 not out as New Ash Green ended up comfortable 5 wicket winners with 6.3 overs to spare.

Belvedere v New Ash Green
Sunday 20th May 2001

Friendly Match - 35 overs

Belvedere 180-7
New Ash Green 108-9
Belvedere won by 72 runs.

After starting the day with no scorebook or ball you felt that it might be one of those days! NAG won the toss and elected to field in a 35 over game. When Matt Scanlan was hit for a big six in the first over of the game it definitely looked like being one of those days. Good tight bowling from Dave Harrington earned him figures of 4-55 in 13 overs including 5 maidens. Darren Phillips, Alan Cottrell and Kieran Hoddinott also picked up a wicket each, but Belvedere made a big total of 180 in their allotted overs.

New Ash Green's batting never looked like making the runs, John Harding top scoring with a patient 34, with John Brandling-Harris (23) and Kieran Hoddinott (15*) the only other scores of note. New Ash Green were not helped by some eccentric umpiring decisions which led to captain Darren Phillips' original version of this report being severely censored due to fear of the libel laws and even led the normally mild mannered John Harding to express a certain degree of surprise! They ended up well short of their target, but did just manage to avoid being all out.